What is the premise of George R. R. Martin's "The Winds of Winter"?

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Quick Answer

The premise of George R.R. Martin's "The Winds of Winter" is to resolve storylines left hanging in his "A Dance with Dragons" installment. The novel, which has not been published as of 2015, covers a battle that was planned in the previous book and brings resolution to several character threads that were unresolved. The author has said that the resolution to the cliffhangers from "A Dance with Dragons" will be resolved early on in "The Winds of Winter."

Sansa and Arya Stark are presented in point-of-view storylines in "The Winds of Winter." Other notable characters include Aeron, Theon and Victarion Greyjoy and Tyrion Lannister.

The book is set to begin just moments after the end of the previous storyline, on the night before the surprise attack on Slaver's Bay by the Iron Islanders. Arianne Martell from "A Dance with Dragons" heads off to Griffin's Roost to see a boy named Aegon. The final two books in the series are said by their author to take the reader even farther North than before, and the appearance of the Others will occur in "The Winds of Winter."

Although a publication date for "The Winds of Winter" is unknown, Martin has said he wants to publish the book before the "Game of Thrones" premieres for its sixth season on HBO, which is slated for 2016.